HPWW601-610

Chapter 601

"Bill came by to ask for an extension on his

bereavement leave from work. It was granted, but 'e

must be back no later than Monday morning. 'E

dropped in to the team and told us some of what the

family was going through. 'E also said that Ginny's

mind-'ealer friend had stopped by yesterday morning

to talk to the whole family."

She gave a little smirk to Harry and said, "'E was told

the elderly widowed witch sent to 'elp Ginny 'ad been

in contact with 'er and asked 'er to stop by and 'elp if

she could. She was there for over two 'ours. Bill said

she did 'elp, some; even 'im."

Harry gave a nod back and felt a little relieved to hear

that.

She gave herself a little shake, took a deep breath and

said, "For work, I was asked to 'elp with finalising

audits on some of the vaults of the deceased, today. I

was recommended because, without Bill there, my

training has... paused. And Gringotts is aware I scored

a high Outstanding on my NEWTs for Arithmancy."

"Enjoyable?" asked Hermione.

"Different," she shrugged and smiled. "I look forward

to Bill returning, though."

"Understood." After a quick check of his watch again,

Harry said, "Anyway. Time for dinner, I think."

His three all nodded and they rose from where they

were sitting, as usual, on the couches.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After dinner and back in the apartment, Harry sat his

three down before they pulled out assignments and

class notes and said, "Remember what I said at lunch

about what Madam Bones said about theories for what

happened on Tuesday night?"

While the other two nodded, Hermione replied, "Yes."

"Well," he said. "I have my own theory. And it has to

do with what she told me about where in the manor

the bodies were discovered.

"First, they were not all in the same room at what they

now figure was a meeting. Five were not there. Four

were upstairs in what I was told was the ladies'

parlour. All four were wives of four of the men in the

meeting room - reception room.

"The last one... was found in the basement, not far

from the manor's potions lab."

Hermione gave a little gasp of surprise and asked,

"That was Ron, wasn't it."

Harry nodded and said, "I think he was trying to brew

potions and the fumes from them... somehow... ended

up being spread throughout the manor.

"I also think that's why Madam Bones is very...

reticent... to speak on her theories. She doesn't want

the House of Weasley pilloried for an accident it looks

like Ron caused."

He hesitated a moment before he said, "And that's

why I'm also forbidding you three from talking about it

outside of us four. While I might have ended up

detesting Ron, I happen to like the rest of the

Weasleys. I don't want to see them pilloried either."

Daphne said, "It'll come out sooner or later, though.

Too many, as you said, important Houses went extinct

and important people died."

"Yes," he agreed. "However, she does not have to tell

anyone it's believed Ron was the one brewing the

potions. For all anyone knows, Nott was brewing the

potions and Ron was just the unlucky sod who ended

up closest to the lab when they all died. With no one

left alive who can gainsay that, I can't see there being

evidence either way."

"Indeed," she quietly nodded.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The Daily Prophet the next morning had the lead story

of the four Ancient Houses who were being elevated

to Noble status. Very soon thereafter, even before the

breakfast session had ended, both Hannah and Tracey

had other students approaching them to congratulate

them both for their Houses' elevations.

Unsurprisingly, Tracey had an easier time of accepting

the words of goodwill. After all, it had been Harry's

intent for some time to work towards the House of

Davis getting elevated. The death of so many was just

a sudden jump forward of that eventual time. And she

was already of the mindset it was going to happen.

Alicia Spinnet, though, still didn't know what to make

of it all.

However, after reading the article herself, she now

knew the identity of one of those responsible.

Harry found himself receiving a short note handed to

him by Angie Johnson asking for a quick meeting in

the entrance hall antechamber. He asked Neville to

join him.

When he got there it was to see the Three Flying

Foxes already there with Spinnet looking a little

anxious.

As soon as he walked in with Neville at his heels, she

almost plaintively asked, "Why?" There was no need

to elaborate.

Harry immediately replied, "For two reasons. Your

House is of the Light; and it was past due."

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Chapter 602

"That's it?" she asked.

"Well, the rest had nothing to do with your House,

specifically," he replied. "Based on what happened at

the emergency session of the Wizengamot in

November 1981, we knew the Dark were going to

immediately take steps to see four more Dark Houses

elevated. That, personally, could not be allowed.

"In a meeting of the Grand Alliance last Saturday we

resolved to put forward four Ancient Houses who are

of the Light before the Dark could put forward their

own.

"We knew straight away we'd be putting forward

Abbott and Davis. It then took a while to determine

who the other two would be. The Ancient House of

Spinnet was short-listed before then being chosen as

one of the other two."

Bell, curious, asked, "Who else?"

"Who else were considered, you mean?" he asked

right back.

She nodded.

"Hilliard, Lovegood and Sturton were three," he

replied. "I don't remember the rest."

"Why not Weasley?" asked Johnson.

"They're only an Elder House and we felt there were

Ancient Houses who should be ahead of them," he

replied. "Plus, someone else put them forward during

the meeting, anyway. I think they only got one vote,

the one who put them forward. Just being nominated

is kudos to them, though."

Spinnet, who during the second part of the

'questioning', hadn't said a word and was clearly

thinking things over, looked up and heart-feltingly

said, "Thank you."

Harry gave a shrug and said, "Then, on behalf of the

Grand Alliance, you're welcome. It was an Alliance

decision, after all."

Johnson immediately frowned and asked, "You were

against it?"

"No," he said. "The Noble and Ancient House of

Potter, as part of the Grand Alliance, did this for the

Ancient House of Spinnet. This had nothing to do with

what Harry feels about Alicia. They're different entities

and different issues."

She looked away in perceived shame and nodded.

Quietly she said, "Sorry."

Harry left a few moments later.

As they crossed the entrance hall back to the Grand

Hall, Neville quietly asked, "That was a bit rude, what

Angie said, wasn't it."

Instead of immediately answering, Harry gave his

mate a 'look' and sighed. He drawled, "Yeah."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

With a late start before Ancient Runes, Harry hung

back with both his 'student' ladies and they discussed

the implications, Wizengamot- and Alliance-wise, of

what it meant.

Hermione asked, "Do you think Sirius and Frank will

be successful in convincing Spinnet and Diggory to

join the Alliance?"

Harry gave a shrug back and said, "I've no idea, to be

honest. Of course, I hope so... but we'll just have to

wait and see."

"How many voting Houses does that give the Alliance

now?" she asked.

"Umm..." he started.

Daphne cut in and replied, "Eleven, plus the

Directorship with Madam Bones."

Harry nodded and said, "That's right."

Hermione put, "So, if Spinnet and Diggory do join the

Alliance, that brings it to thirteen... fourteen."

"Yup," he replied.

"Will that be enough to get Sirius's Bill passed?" she

asked.

"I have no idea," he replied. "I leave the politicking to

the others. I'm not that good at it."

Daphne said, "And we'll have plenty of time to teach

you."

"I can read people alright," he admitted. "But knowing

how they'd react emotionally to an issue... I can only

make guesses based on prior behaviours to similar

issues in the past."

Both ladies gently smiled at him before Daphne said,

"I think Hermione and I... and Fleur, too... figured that

part of you out quite some time ago."

Hermione nodded as Harry blushed a little.

The girls now knew not to 'tweak' him for it. To them, it

was just Harry being Harry. A fraction of an inch over

six foot tall now and all fit and healthy young man, all

three knew he loved them; even if he had his slightly

odd quirks, at times.

His ability to accurately logically reason things out,

though... it still, on occasion, left them mentally

reeling in both shock and awe; even now.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The next day, the Thursday, Harry received a letter

delivered by Hermes, Percy Weasley's owl. It was a

request by Molly he and Hermione attend the funeral

for Ron to be held at the Weasley family plot. The plot,

he knew, was located behind Notice-me-Not charms in

a corner of the Weasley family land near the family

apple orchard. It was scheduled for the coming

Saturday morning at 11.00am. A feast would be held

as part of the wake at lunch the same day.

Harry read it and sighed before handing it off to

Hermione.

She, too, sighed when she read it. "At the same time

it's sweet that they specifically invited us, it's also a

little insulting they didn't invite Daphne or Fleur."

"My thoughts, too," he said.

"Do you want to attend?" she asked.

He shook his head and sadly replied, "No. And not

just for the probably unintended insult, either. His

behaviour over the past twelve months, let alone his

effectively being bribed to be my friend, let alone his

treatment of you over the same time... No, I have no

reason to go other than in support of the rest of the

Weasleys.

"Even then I might still have gone, due to wanting to

show support for them, but their not including Daphne

or Fleur was still an insult. That insult was enough to

tip the balance to not go."

She nodded and said, "Do you want me to write the

letter declining the invitation? I'll say something about

how you're distraught... no, you didn't feel

comfortable putting words... you didn't feel

comfortable attending the funeral of one who, when

they last saw you, tried to kill you. That's better."

"If you wouldn't mind?" he begged.

"I'll write it," she firmly replied. "You can proof read it,

before it's sent."

"Thank you." The relief in his expression was quite

evident.

Thankfully, they had yet another free first period. This

one due to Astronomy that night. So Hermione

continued to sit at the table well after breakfast had

completed with Harry sitting beside her; and she

wrote the letter back to Arthur. After all, such letters

should be sent to the head of House, even though it

was Molly who wrote the invitation.

Hedwig flew in just after she'd finished it, with both of

them informally signing it, and appeared quite happy

to take it to deliver it for them.

Both breathed a sigh of relief as she headed for the

rafters to leave via the owl windows.

"There'll be more of those sort of invitations over the

coming days," Harry softly said. "At least, these ones

will be 'official' invitations; for the funerals for those

who sat on the Wizengamot and the three of those of

Member Houses of the Alliance.

"If at all possible, we'll have to attend the three for

Philip, Eugene and Cyril; but we can excuse ourselves

for the others."

Hermione suddenly thought about something and

jerked up straight. She exclaimed, "I'm going to need

witches' mourning robes!"

He gave a nod and said, "I know Daphne has them.

She wore them the day of the Malfoy Will reading. But

I'm unsure if Fleur has them. Either way, so long as

the funerals are held no earlier than next Saturday

morning, we'll organise with the Headmistress for you

and the others who don't have them to floo across to

Diagon Alley for a couple hours."

"That would be helpful, yes," she returned.

It turned out later that it was discovered Fleur did not

have witches' mourning robes with her, after all, and

Daphne was looking for a new set, anyway. Once

they'd figured out all three would need to go to the

Alley to be fitted for them, they then went and spoke

with the other witches in the Heirs' group. Tracey had

a set but, like Daphne, only the one. None of the

others did.

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Chapter 603

After discussing it with the Headmistress, she gave

them permission to attend Diagon Alley to 'rectify this

appalling situation' on the Saturday morning.

However, the three boys would also be going to

Diagon. They'd be going to Twillfit and Tatting's while

the ladies were headed for a clothier boutique called

'Lady Priss, Couterier'. According to Daphne, Lady

Priss was so discrete she didn't even have a shop

front; and was the witches' version of Twillfit and

Tatting's.

Harry had little idea the store existed until he received

the bill for the ladies trip to Diagon when Fleur joined

them. However, even now he had no idea just where in

Diagon Alley it was located, only that it was in Diagon.

He just gave a mental shrug and told Hermione, "Open

coin purse for this, Love. Spend what you want. You

know it's not an issue.

"Oh; and pay for the lot for the other ladies, too. You

should all be looking your best. If their guardians get

upset with me later for it, I'll take care of it."

That earned him a major snog from Hermione; then

Daphne and Fleur, almost together, when they found

out Harry had decided on, as he put it, an 'open coin

purse policy' when it came to witches, their clothing

and anything else relating to them.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The next morning's mail bomb brought with it all three

funeral notices for the three individuals of their

Alliance, plus a demand from Molly he and Hermione

attend the funeral for Ron as she 'wanted all her

children attending, even if they weren't of her blood',

and one on Thaddeus Rowle's authority for Harry and

his ladies to attend the one for Thorfinn Rowle. Cyril

MacMillan's would be on Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm;

Philip Bancroft's and Eugene Dallyhatch's would be

on Monday morning. Philip's was at 9.00am and

Eugene's was at 11.00am. Thankfully, Thorfinn Rowles

was on, also at 9.00am on the Monday, at the same

time as Philip's.

"Wow, they're close!" declared Neville, who held in his

hand his own 'notice'.

"I'm not surprised," said Daphne. "Don't forget;

there's forty seven funerals that have to be covered in

very short order. And that's not counting those few

which would be of witches and wizards who died

recently and weren't even at Nott's manor.

"As such, there is going to be quite a few funerals that

are going to be held at the same time, let alone

consecutively; and let alone how close these ones

are. I have no doubt there are other funerals being

held at the same time, or near enough, as these ones

and quite possibly even at the same place."

"Which is all the excuse I need not to attend the

funerals of the Members of the Wizengamot I really

have no desire to attend," Harry firmly stated.

"Some of those were of Houses considered Grey,

Harry," she firmly said.

"They might have been publicly recognised as Grey,"

he argued. "But the fact they were at that meeting

casts significant doubt on that."

She gave a nod and said, "You are likely to take a hit

in the press for not attending, but I doubt you'll be the

only one who'll refuse."

"Which brings me to this one," he firmly said, offering

the letter to Daphne.

"Rowle," she said. "Of course. One of the Seven."

"One of the seven died?" asked Hermione.

"No. His Heir Apparent," said Harry. "Thorfinn Rowle.

One of the so-called Imperiused Death Eaters in the

last war."

"It would be rude not to attend the Rowle funeral,"

said Daphne. "However, it would be disrespectful not

to attend the Bancroft funeral."

"We go to the Bancroft funeral," said Harry.

Daphne nodded, started folding the letter back up and

said, "Then it should be I who writes the response to

Rowle, stating your disappointment you will not be

able to attend due to the funeral of an ally being held

at the same time." She slipped the letter into her inner

robe pocket at the breast. "You'll sign it."

Harry nodded and said, "Thank you."

"And what do we do about Molly's demand?" asked

Hermione.

"We ignore it," he replied. "I'm not saying that just

because I want to be rude, either. I'm saying that

because we've already informed her we won't be

attending. All sending her a second refusal will do is

just upset her further."

Hermione nodded. "We leave it be, then," she said.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The trip to Diagon occurred immediately following an

early 'Harry' breakfast in the Potter apartment. While a

little put out he wouldn't be allowed to cook it, Dobby

was allowed to assist and clean all the dirty dishes.

Hermione had successfully argued that there was

likely to be quite a few people who would be in the

Alley to purchase things like mourning robes and it

would be best if they arrived early to get in first.

Because of the early hour, the previous day Harry

asked for and received permission from the

Headmistress to use the floo in the Potter apartment.

So, immediately after breakfast, they only had to enter

the apartment living room to floo to the Alley, rather

than troop across half the castle to the

Headmistress's office.

After dropping the ladies off at the quite plain door of

Lady Priss's shop, the three boys headed to their

appointment at Twillfit and Tatting's. They had plenty

of time and they knew it. It might take them about an

hour to be fitted, but the ladies were going to be even

longer.

Or, so they thought. Things were about to turn ugly.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Exiting the male clothier's, each with a large bundle

under their arms, the three boys were still discussing

the fitting and material selections when Harry was

knocked off his feet by a rude and hard shoulder

nudge.

By the time he landed and bounced into a combat

crouch, he already saw that Neville had someone

pinned to the wall of the building they were passing

by. He had the person pinned with his offhand forearm

across the back of the man's neck and his wand-hand

holding the other person's wand arm locked up

behind him.

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Chapter 604

Able to see the person's face, Harry recognised him

immediately - Theodore Nott. While Neville's face

showed great anger, Nott's expression also showed

anger, but it was clear he was also trying hide

shocked fear.

A moment later, Justin was helping Harry to his feet.

"Are you alright, Lord Potter?"

'Nice,' thought Harry, recognising why Justin named

him that way. "I am, thank you, Heir Finch-Fletchley."

As Harry used his wand to clean his robes, he thought

fast about what to do about this. Already a small

crowd was beginning to gather.

Decision made he turned his attention more fully to a

thoroughly pinned Nott. Neville both out-massed him

considerably and also had leverage on his side. Nott

had been trying to struggle free, but it got him

nowhere; Neville just pressed harder.

"Heir Nott," Harry almost snarled. "You've just

attacked―"

"Aurors!" came a bark from just beyond the small

gathering of bystanders and gawkers. A moment later

a Senior and Second Class stepped through the

crowd.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the Senior.

Harry recognised the Senior from off his protection

detail when he stayed with the Grangers.

"Heir Nott, here," snarled Neville, "Just attacked the

Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House... One of the

Seven... Lord Potter. I believe Lord Potter has

something to say to him about that."

Before the auror could speak and or make any

demands, Harry got in first.

"I do!" he firmly stated. "Heir Nott. You've just

attacked my person. As I know you were aware, I am

the Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House. As I

know you are also aware, I have the right to demand

satisfaction for your actions... and I do!

As quite a few people gasped in shock, Harry

continued, "Heir Nott, for your ongoing attacks upon

my House... of which this incident is only the latest... I,

Lord Harrison James Potter, of Potter, hereby formally

challenge you to an Honour Duel. Such duel to take

place within one week. Such duel to take place, as all

such formal duels between Heads of Houses take

place, at the Ministry duelling arena at the Ministry of

Magic. What say you... cur!"

Neville immediately released the boy and stepped a

pace and a half back.

As Harry had challenged Nott, the other boy's eyes at

first widened in shock, before he began to look afraid.

However, he held his ground. With Neville pressing

him face-first into the wall, he really couldn't go

anywhere, anyway.

Once Neville released him, Harry wasn't sure if the

boy was going to show he had no honour after all and

bolted, or actually accept. After turning to face Harry,

it was a long moment before he braced himself up

and, with a sneer, firmly stated, "I accept!"

Harry gave a firm nod back, his eyes never leaving

those of Nott, and said, "Name your second."

Nott was about to say something when he then looked

a little unsure. Finally he said, "My second recently

passed. I shall have to seek another."

'So, his grandfather was his chosen second,' thought

Harry. Before he could say he didn't have a second

either, Neville firmly spoke up.

"I stand as Lord Potter's second," he stated. "Arrange

for your second... whoever is foolish enough to take

the post... to contact me by owl no later than sundown

tomorrow night."

Nott firmly returned, "So be it." Then spun and

stormed away.

"Lord Potter," snapped the Senior, finally allowed to

step in.

When Harry turned a cool gaze upon the man, he

continued, "While it is lawful... As you are still a young

man, as is Mister Nott, this will fall unfavourably

against you no matter the outcome."

"It's a Honour Duel, Senior," he returned. "It is not my

direct intent to kill the fool."

"It will be his to kill you, though," said the auror.

"I know," said Harry. "However, unless his past few

months at Durmstrang have greatly improved his

prowess with a wand, he won't have a chance to carry

that out."

The Senior gave a nod and turned to Neville. "Heir

Longbottom, I shall inform Madam Bones a formal

Honour Duel will be held in the Ministry duelling arena

within the week; and who it will be between. I daresay

she will have words for you."

Neville gave a nod back and the Senior spun away,

taking the somewhat stunned Second Class with him.

Harry turned to Neville as the boy closed the distance

between them. "Thank you."

Neville quietly asked, "You know you're going to take

a lot of guff from within the Alliance over this, don't

you?"

"Yeah," he replied. "But, they're not the ones whom

I'm worried about."

Justin got it right away. "Hermione and the others are

going to kill you before you even get a chance to step

onto that platform."

As Harry turned to him with a slight smile, Justin

handed him his bundle of robes back. "Yep," he

replied, accepting them. "I just hope Daphne will stop

the other two from tearing me apart. She'll be the first

to calm down, knowing this was necessary."

"You're going to need to be fitted for duelling robes,"

said Neville.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

None of the ladies witnessed what occurred between

Harry and Nott in the Alley. And, as the three boys

didn't say anything until they returned to the castle,

Harry wasn't subjected to a public berating from the

three of them; or the others.

He thanked God he was on his own when it happened,

as both Justin and Neville got out of there almost right

away to give him the opportunity to tell them in

private.

Before he'd finished explaining, Hermione was in his

face. he could see the fear in her eyes. "Are you OUT

of your naffing MIND?! HOW could you DO this?"

"It's one of those necessary evils that comes from

being one of the Seven, Hermione," he started to

explain.

"He's going to try to KILL you!" she ranted. "You

KNOW he is!"

"I know," he calmly returned. "And I'll be making sure

he doesn't."

She stared back in gobsmacked shock for a moment

before she gave an almost inarticulate cry of anger

and fear, spun about and ran from the living room to

her bedroom, slamming the door shut on her way in.

With a sigh he turned to the other two. Both were just

as angry and both were just as afraid for him.

"Even if you win, this is not going to end well for you,"

said Daphne.

"And this was also probably going to happen, sooner

or later," he said. "I'd rather it sooner, where I know I'll

have a much better chance of beating him, than later,

when he can get his skills up."

"You're going to need duelling robes and we're going

to 'ave to train you 'ard in what time we've got before

the duel," said a clearly unhappy and scared Fleur.

"Dobby," he called.

"Yes, Master Harry?" asked an also clearly afraid

house elf. "Check the vaults for me, Dobs. I remember

seeing a decent set of duelling robes in there."

Dobby gave a nod and popped away.

He was back in a long moment with three sets of

robes.

Harry spotted the ones he was thinking off and picked

them up from where the elf had put them, side by side,

on the long couch.

Both his two witches still in the room also came over

to have a look.

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Chapter 605

"Acromantula silk with what I think is Ukrainian

Ironbelly plating," said Daphne, fingering them.

Fleur, also fingering the material, quietly said,

"Protection runes, arrays for cooling and comfort,

anti-transfiguration arrays, a few others I do not

recognise. I will need to go over them to determine

what they all are."

Daphne gave a nod and said, "Strip and put them on."

After Harry did just that, Fleur had already gathered

stationery and was using a conjured clipboard to hold

the sheets of parchment. He was quite surprised by

how well they fit him and mentioned it.

It was Dobby, watching, who said, "They belongsed to

Lord Charlus Potter, Master Harry. He beings known

as being very good dueller."

Harry then held his arms out and allowed the two

witches to walk around him, pointing out the various

enchantments and arrays woven into the material.

As they worked, Hermione came back out. It was clear

she'd been crying. However, what his other two ladies

were doing had her come over and join them. She

might be upset with him, but she would not let it

interfere with making sure he was as protected as

legally possible before going into that duel.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

About an hour after Harry first put on the robes, his

three ladies were still going over everything and

looking what could be improved upon in the time he

was likely to have left.

A knock on the door had Hermione going over to open

it. It was Neville, Justin and their four.

Hermione just stepped aside and gestured them

within.

Harry had to turn about to see them as he was still

facing almost completely the other way after donning

the robes. He could see that CeeCee had been crying,

too. Her eyes were red rimmed.

As soon as her eyes locked with his, she hurried over

and wrapped him in a hug under his arms, laying her

face sideways on his chest.

"You're an idiot," she firmly sniffled.

"This is something that happens, sometimes, at my

level," he replied. "Eventually, someone was going to

step up and challenge me, or I would have to

challenge them.

"Until it happened, there would be those... out there...

who would always wonder just how good I am. There

would be those who would always wonder if they

could make something of a name for themselves by

being the one who 'took me out'.

"I'd rather it be against someone like Theodore Nott...

and that it occurred because he finally pushed me too

far... than someone who I know is going to be so much

better.

"Once it's done, it will have sent a message. That

message is: 'Lord Harrison Potter is prepared to take

things to a duel if you push him too far'.

"Understand?"

Before CeeCee could reply, only going so far as to pull

her head back to look him in the eyes, he was glomtackled by Hermione with a Hermi-hug from the side.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she squeaked.

"Don't be sorry for being upset with me because you

were afraid for me, Hermione," he firmly said. "It's

alright."

As she sniffled into his shoulder, he said, "In our

home, wherever our home happens to be at that point

in time, you'll be allowed to get verbally upset with

me; even yell at me. That's allowed. Just make sure

you don't do it in public or when we have guests."

As he felt her nod, CeeCee backed off and said,

"You're very bright."

Looking back at her he grinned and said, "Only just

figuring that out, are you?"

She grinned back, pulled away, whacked him on the

arm and returned to be nearer Justin.

As an aside as Hermione got control of her emotions

again, he thought, 'I don't think CeeCee's going to

want to part with Justin once she's of age. I think her

concubinage might become permanent, down the

track.

'I'll have to talk with Justin about it; make sure he

understands that and is prepared for it.'

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

As it was getting on to almost too late for lunch, Harry

quickly went into his room to change into casual. He

brought the robes out and laid them back on the

couch, as he thought the three witches might want to

make 'improvements' to them.

Then the ten headed down to the Great Hall.

As they walked Neville softly said to Harry, "I've sent

an elf off to Dad to let him know about the duel. And

asked him to let the others know. I've also asked him

to stand in as assistant to me as second to help

organise and book the duelling chamber at the

Ministry."

Harry nodded back, smiled and said, "Thank you."

A few moments later, he asked, "You're going to be

able to take him, right? That auror was right when he

said Nott's going to try to kill you."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Starting this afternoon I'm going

to start duel training. I might not have long, but

neither does he. I'll be focussing on honing my reflex

speed and spell-chains, plus making sure my stamina

is still up.

"He won't be fit, even with going to Durmstrang now;

so I'll be able to outlast him on physical fitness and

magical stamina. Plus, the faster I cast, the less

chance he has to cast back.

"What I'm more worried about is him going to the dark

arts. I don't think it'll be if he goes that route, but

when. I'll need to watch for that."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After letting his lunch settle, Harry again changed into

his Great Uncle's duelling robes and the Heirs headed

for the Room of Requirement.

For the next three hours they worked... hard.

While the others were going through books on

magical combat and duelling that the Room provided,

Harry was warming up with the duelling dummies.

This time he focussed on just one, but this one was

set to Level 5. It was one level down from it's best

setting; and that one was dangerous, even for him.

Curses were lethal at that level.

After warming up for fifteen minutes he'd taken a

quick break. That was all Hermione needed to call him

over and show him a list they'd prepared of grey and

dark curses. They'd listed the name, wand movement,

incantation and colour of the curse.

"When not actually training you need to memorise

these," said Hermione, in... well... Hermione-mode.

"We've kept it simple and in a fashion we know works

well for you... lists."

"It's actually quite clever," said Daphne. "You don't

need to know everything there is to know about each

curse or hex as it's not as if you're ever going to use

them. However, you need to know the basics of each

so you can then know how to defend against them."

"By listing them out," continued Hermione. "You have

a ready list - a cheat sheet - that you can far more

easily remember and recall when and if you need it.

Plus, we're only building a single list, at the moment.

Once we've got what we can get down, down, I think

we should break it down into effects and counters.

"For example, some are area effect; like, for instance,

Fulmos is the smoke cloud charm. A Protego won't

have any effect on that.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 606

"Then there are others that were designed specifically

to get through a Protego, even a Protego Totalum or

Protego Horribilis. With those, we'll determine if it's

better to dodge them, use a conjured shield or if

there's a shield charm designed for when the Protego

is useless."

"Already we've decided that the Avis charm is

worthless to you," said Daphne. "You tend to always

be in motion and the Avis, to be effective, requires you

to stand still."

"Oui," said Fleur. "That is why we are looking for

defensive methods that do not restrict you from your

always-in-motion style of fighting."

"For now, train some more," said Daphne. "We need

to watch you more, to get an even better idea on what

sort of defensive strategy would work best for you."

Harry smirked after the three-way tag team his ladies

just did and replied, "Yes, Ma'ams." And returned to

the duelling piste with its single target dummy.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After working all afternoon in the Room of

Requirement, Harry was back there after dinner.

Secretly, he borrowed the books his ladies used to

write down that list they were still developing of dark

arts curses and hexes and, one at a time, cast them in

the room to help him with memorising each and every

one of them to the best of his ability.

He felt he needed to see them because 'muddy

orange' wasn't that great a description. Neither was, 'a

greenish blue', 'a dark yellow' or similar.

When he successfully cast each one he now had a

better idea of just what those curses actually looked

like. For a start, 'a muddy orange' translated to 'burnt

umber', 'a greenish blue' translated to 'a dark aqua'

and 'a dark yellow' translated to 'mustard'. He

corrected each on the list the girls had already

created, knowing what he held was a copy of the

original they were still working on.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

With Cyril MacMillan's funeral that afternoon, Harry

was back in the Room of Requirement on the Sunday

morning, again practicing against a single duelling

dummy.

With the dummy set at Level Three, he had it casting

curses at him that were little more than jinxes. And

practiced what he'd read in one of the books was

called 'spell swatting'. He was surprised to learn that

spell swatting was also effective against almost all of

those curses that the Protego charm wouldn't shield,

except the Unforgivables. The weakness of spell

swatting was the disarming charm, Expelliarmus. And

Expelliarmus had a 'clear' colour. That is, it was so

transparent as it flew from the wand tip of the caster

that it couldn't be properly seen as more than a ripple

of displaced air. However, a Protego, surprisingly,

blocked it.

He'd spent part of the previous evening, after tiring

himself out magically, going over ideas of what

offensive charms and the like he could employ in his

forthcoming duel against Nott. He'd had Dobby collect

books on combat magics from Pottermore and was

going through them, practicing wand movements with

his wand hand and holding the book with his offhand

as he went.

That's when he thought about using minor hexes and

adding them to his repertoire; even Ron's Eat Slugs

hex was added, as its wand movement was little more

than a jab/twist. Ginny's Bat Bogey hex required a

quick twirl and a yank down, but fitted in well in a

spell chain immediately before a curse that started

with the wand tip pointing somewhat down.

Once he had a book on them, he was quick to see the

use they could have in a duel. They didn't hurt the one

they were cast at, but they could be very distracting

and allow an opening for a more powerful and harmful

curse to slip through.

The Silencing charm, Silencio, while not harmful,

could be used to stop the opponent using verbal

incantations; as could the Tongue-locking charm,

Langlock. A colour-changing charm, if accurate

enough, could be used to discolour the water in the

eyes of the opponent, temporarily blinding them. The

noise muffling charm, Muffliato, an area effect charm,

could create a noises-suppressed area around the

opponent, effectively deafening them.

And, of course, there was also battle transfiguration.

The use of transfiguration in combat.

Harry was nowhere near competent in the art, as

almost all of it was related to inanimate to animate. He

could, of course, do something like transfigure a

teapot to do a little dance; but the more impressive

and effective stuff was beyond him. He just hoped it

was also beyond Nott. However, he could use

transfiguration to turn the ground the boy stood upon

to quicksand momentarily before solidifying it again;

locking the boy in place and unable to dodge because

his feet were stuck in the floor.

He practiced what he could and tried to come up with

ways to counter what he couldn't with other ways he

could at least minimise the chance of it happening.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After a shower before lunch, then lunch, the Heirs

returned to their apartments to change. They needed

to change into their mourning robes in preparation of

the funeral.

The girls complained that they wouldn't have a lot of

time to, as Monica would put it, 'gussy-up'. They'd all

wanted to skip lunch, but Harry thought an hour was

more than sufficient and, apparently, so too did

Neville and Justin.

"No one skips lunch," Harry firmly stated. "If you skip

lunch you may very well commit that heinous sin of

falling asleep during the service... or whatever it is

that's the wizarding equivalent."

"Besides," said Neville. "You all now have access to a

Ladies' elf. That'll speed things up for you."

It did... apparently. All seven ladies were ready with

five minutes to spare before they had to make their

way to the Headmistress's office. Unlike other

students who would be attending funerals, who would

be going via their Heads of Houses floos, as the

Headmistress would also be attending the funeral they

went through hers.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Harry had never been to a funeral before, let alone a

wizarding one. So he didn't know what to expect.

Once it was over, Daphne told him it was quite short

for a Noble and Ancient House. "I wonder if they

shortened it because Augustus was embarrassed his

son's body had been found at that meeting," she

mused.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 607

Neville said, "To be fair, it may have also been

because there are so many funerals coming up."

Hermione said, "I've only been to two muggle

funerals, myself. And that was a little short, compared

to them."

"I liked it," said Harry. "I kind of expected it to be one

speaker after another extolling the virtues of the

deceased before they finally interred him. Leastwise,

that's what I read they were like. But, this wasn't like

that."

"It's going to be noticed that Augustus didn't speak,"

said Daphne. "Augustus is Lord of the House and

Cyril was his Heir Apparent. Some are going to see

that Augustus not speaking was a way of stating

Disownment without coming out and actually saying

it."

Justin added, "Lord Longbottom gave a nice speech

on the contribution of House MacMillan to the Alliance

and how he was looking forward to what contributions

Cyril would make as Head of House when his time

came."

Harry thought, 'He also made no mention of how they

now all thought of him as a traitor.'

Neville looked to Harry and carefully asked, "If I may

ask, Harry, what did Mum say to you under that

muffling charm after the funeral?"

Harry thought about and replied, "She wanted to talk

about the upcoming duel with Nott. And, let me put it

this way, I had no idea your Mum knew that many

swear words."

Neville winced and softly said, "Yeah, she does."

"She, Frank and Sirius all reminded me I'm One of the

Seven and have no heirs. As such, I need to... not go

taking risks that could render House Potter extinct,"

he explained. "Adeline overheard some of that and

said... what words did she use?... I should... 'Hurry up

and rectify that situation'. Then smirked at me."

Daphne winced.

"She never!" exclaimed Tracey.

Harry grinned back and said, "Her exact words,

Trace."

"That was bit forward," huffed Hermione.

"A bit?" asked Daphne. Then she muttered, "I'm going

to have to have words with that witch."

Harry, blushing a little again, said, "Don't be too hard

on her, Daph. I understand where she's coming from.

She just wants to make sure the Houses of

Greengrass and Potter has future Heads of House

lined up in succession."

She harrumphed, scowled and said, "Don't let her fool

you. She just wants grandbabies to spoil."

Harry shrugged and said, "I see nothing wrong with

that."

With an annoyed huff she said, "She wants them now,

Potter. That is, in nine months. She doesn't want us to

wait until after we finish our NEWTs."

"Oh," he softly said with a light blush again. "But,

that's not what you want, right?"

"No," she said.

"Then that's not what's going to happen," he firmly

said. "It's your choice, remember?"

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Having already received permission to skip classes on

the Monday morning to attend the two funerals - and

because the first one, Philip Bancroft's, was at 9.00am

- the heirs ate an early 'Harry' breakfast. Having it

before 7.00am, which is when the Great Hall laid it on,

gave the ladies time to get ready.

Fleur couldn't join them, as she needed to be at work.

While it was also Bill's first day back after his

youngest brother's death and subsequent funeral, as

the funerals were not of immediate family Fleur could

not in good conscience ask for leave for the morning.

Again they went out via the Headmistress's floo.

However, this time, they re-entered the school by way

of the Potter floo. Lady Marchbanks would return to

the school after Eugene Dallyhatch's funeral as she

had yet another to attend between the two; one of the

Grey Houses, the Elder House of Haworth, had the

funeral for their now ex-Head of House, Miles

Haworth, then.

As they stepped back through the floo into the Potter

apartment, Harry said, "Big day for Lady Marchbanks

today. I believe she has yet another funeral to attend

this afternoon."

"Olaf McLaggen," said Hermione. "Cormac

McLaggen's father. He was one of the first to find out,

due to Mister McLaggen the older's life stone."

McLaggen's life stone was kept at their home.

Harry wasn't bothered with getting changed, but the

girls were. Daphne explained, "It would be gauche for

we ladies to attend the second funeral in the same

mourning robes, Harry. We've got time to change, so

we will."

However, as there was no need to apply fresh makeup, only touch up what they had which Betsy took

care of in a moment, it didn't take them long to

change. Meanwhile, Harry had organised a morning

tea and 'let' Dobby organise and prepare it.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

The second funeral was very similar to the other two.

For the speakers on behalf of the Alliance, Lady

Marchbanks spoke at Philip Bancroft's; and Heathcliff

Davis, now Lord Heathcliff Davis due to the ennobling,

spoke at Eugene Dallyhatch's.

He'd also learned at the second funeral that 'the

deceased's' widow, Eliza, had temporarily moved into

the Sibbledotch home. Prissy Sibbledotch had

insisted. The Dallyhatch's had no children of their

own, who could step in to aid their mother.

Thankfully, the Heirs were able to return to the school

just after lunch had started and, after a quick change

of mourning robes to school robes, made it down to

the Great Hall in time to eat.

As they were sitting at the Seventh Year's end of the

Gryffindor table, this time, Harry looked around and

could see there were some wearing their own

mourning robes and looking quite morose in some

cases.

He sighed and said, "I'll be glad when these funerals

are over."

No one said anything back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 608

The next morning Neville received an owl from Marcus

Flint of all people.

As soon as he realised who it was from and, though

he knew a number of detection charms, he asked the

others to carefully check over the letter, and him, to

see if any harmful charms or curses had snuck past

him.

When it all came up clear, Neville finally opened the

letter. Of course, by then all the other Heirs were

carefully watching, waiting for something to be

triggered they'd all missed.

A quick read and, as he did, his eyebrows rose in

surprise.

"It's from Flint, alright. Marcus Flint," he said, eyes

still on the contents of the letter. "Apparently, he's

Nott's nominated second.

"Flint wants to discuss the terms of the Honour Duel,"

he continued. "He's already been in contact with

Duelling Master Robards of the DMLE, Captain of the

Piste. He's asking for the duel to be delayed until next

Monday, due to all the funerals that are being held this

week, including his grandfather's, his Late Lord of

House. He claims Robards is willing to book the

duelling chamber at the Ministry for next Monday at

twelve noon and, get this, demands I confirm."

After a quick snort of amusement he continued, "He

wants terms to determine capitulation and victory set

before the duelling flag is dropped."

"How rude!" scoffed Tracey.

"It is," nodded Harry, remembering the book on formal

duels he'd read; and reread even as recently as the

previous night.

Harry thought for a few moments and looked to

Neville, "Your father, if I remember correctly, is a full

bottle on pre-duel etiquette, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is," replied the other boy, before what Harry

was getting at had the Lumos light up. "You're alright

with me asking my father for help in responding?"

"Yep," said Harry. "Consider it... making good use of

the resources available to you in your duties as

Second."

Relieved, Neville said, "Yeah. When you put it like

that..."

Daphne offered, "You can use the floo in our

apartment to floo call him."

After a glance at Harry to see he didn't have a problem

with it, he turned to Daphne and said, "Thank you.

That's most kind. I'll do that, tonight."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After a long day of classes with most students, those

who didn't find themselves having to attend funerals,

settling back into study after a previous week of high

drama, after their double of Herbology to wrap up the

day, Harry and his ladies returned to the apartment.

Neville said he was going to go change and would be

right back.

He was back less than fifteen minutes later and he and

Harry, assisted by Daphne, laid out what Harry saw as

'terms' for the duel. Since Flint had been quite rude in

his letter, Harry wanted the terms to be quite harsh.

Neville gave a low whistle and said, "I'll let my father

know and we'll see what we can come up with."

Then he headed for the floo, plucking the kneeling mat

up from its resting place against the side of the

fireplace and laying it down on the hearth.

Once the call connected and Neville had his head in

the green flames, Daphne asked, "Do you think he'll

agree?"

He gave one of his half shrugs and said, "If Frank and

Neville can rile the man enough with their response, I

think he'll accept."

After speaking for about half an hour with his father,

Neville finally pulled his head out of the floo and

groaned a little climbing back to his feet.

As he massaged his knees he said, "Dad's going to

write the response... based on what you told me... and

HEED it back. I'll then rewrite it in my hand and owl it."

Harry nodded, "Sounds like a plan."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

After a quiet Wednesday, Thursday morning had yet

another letter for Neville from Flint. This one in

response to the letter he owled on the Tuesday night.

Harry had read that one and snorted in amusement at

the polite yet condescending tone of it. Basically, it

was worded to state that Nott should feel privileged to

be permitted to duel One of the Seven. Then went into

the terms.

There would be no Unforgivables. If such was cast,

the Captain of the Piste would step in. The one who

cast the Unforgivable, besides being arrested, will be

deemed the vanquished. As it was an Honour Duel, no

curses cast to be deliberately fatal were allowed.

Again, the Captain would step in at the first cast of

one and with the same deliberation. A few points

Harry didn't even think of included no use of potions

in the system before the start of the duel, they would

be tested for them; no carrying of any weapon other

than the one wand; no carrying of potions on the

person; no poisons; and scans would be made of both

duellers immediately prior to stepping on the piste for

all of the above to ensure compliance. There were a

few other points, but those were the 'biggies'.

Flint's second letter basically accused Harry of being

a coward, but then stated the terms were 'grudgingly

accepted' - and that was all Harry needed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 609

When Neville finished quietly reading it to them all,

Harry said, "Excellent. Let your father know to contact

Duelling Master Robards that it's confirmed for 12

noon on Monday."

Neville nodded back.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Friday morning's Daily Prophet had news of the duel.

It accurately portrayed who was involved, where it

would be held and at what date and time. And went

into quite a bit as to why it happened.

Harry was just happy the article didn't accuse him of

being an up-and-coming dark lord or something.

While it was bit scathing of him demanding the duel, it

also covered he was in the right to do it. So, he was

happy enough with the reporting of it.

What he wasn't happy about was it meant the

spectators' gallery would be packed. He asked Neville

to make sure he had three 'family' seats reserved for

it.

"Don't worry about that, Harry," said the boy. "That's

always the case. The family of both duelers have a

private box each opposite one another level with the

centre line of the piste."

Harry nearly sighed in relief. "Make sure those of our

family get those seats, would you?"

"You should ask Lord Black, as your godfather, to do

that."

"Good idea," he nodded. "I'll let him know, via mirror,

sometime today."

While the others were all in classes, Harry spent

almost the entire time in the Room. While there, he

practiced and practiced and practiced. During breaks,

he did his best to memorise the rewritten and

reorganised list of dark curses, so he could remember

what they looked like and what they were when they

were cast at him; and their counters.

He also wore his duelling robes throughout the entire

time, so he would become very comfortable wearing

them. As they had armour within them and were, even

then, padded, he needed to get used to the slightly

added resistance to his movements they caused. They

had weight reducing charms on them, but they did

little for the momentum of that weight. That was the

resistance he felt.

On one of his breaks he mirror-called Sirius and told

him to work out who could be in the family box for

him.

"I can do that, pup," his godfather replied.

He was so involved in what he was doing he was

almost late for Ancient Runes in fourth period.

When he joined Hermione and Daphne in the

classroom, just before the door was shut, he quietly

and confidently said to both of them, "I'm ready. The

weekend will be refining what I know."

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

And that's exactly what happened, to a point.

Across the weekend he spent an hour on the training

piste, then two hours of working on assignments, a

half hour yet again going over the list of dark curses

and hexes that could be thrown his way, then start

again. The only breaks were for morning and

afternoon teas and lunch. He started after breakfast

and stopped just before dinner time.

He was actually surprised he'd managed to get all his

assignments caught up by Sunday evening, leaving

him free to concentrate on the duel.

On Monday, he attended breakfast in the Great Hall

with the others, then the double of History of Magic.

However, after morning tea, when he entered the

potions lab for the double of Potions, the professor

told him not to attend and make himself ready for his

duel. The class would be working on a potion that

would take them right through to the lunch break and

he'd have to have left by then.

"Go meditate, or something!" she ordered him.

He thought that was a bloody clever idea so returned

to the apartment, told Dobby he'd be meditating and

to 'wake' him at eleven thirty, cleared a space on the

floor in front of the fireplace and assumed his

meditation pose.

His mind health was something he'd been ignoring of

late. Besides, it gave him an excellent opportunity to

make sure his spell repertoire, both light and dark,

was at the forefront of his mind; together with his

knowledge on what advantages he could take on the

piste and those which could be used against him.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At a few minutes past eleven o'clock, he was

disturbed when Hermione came in, scowling.

"Problem?" he asked.

The Professor kicked me out. She said I wasn't

focussing enough and she thought I was a danger to

the other students. I wasn't, though. I know I wasn't."

He chuckled, rose and walked over to give her a hug.

As he backed off he said, "No, I daresay you weren't;

but, think about it. Why else would she kick you out.

And, did she deduct any points off you?"

It didn't take her long to figure out and she looked in

surprise at Harry.

"She kicked me out so I could be with you for your

duel," she said almost in awe.

"Yup."

That's when Daphne walked in, with almost the same

'tale'. However, she'd already figured it out.

Then Neville walked in with a smirk. He explained, "A

few minutes after Professor Grimfield threw Hermione

out, she threw me out."

Harry laughed.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

At eleven thirty five the four used the Potter apartment

floo to floo directly to the reception area of the

Ministry's duelling chamber. Master Auror Robards -

or, rather, Captain of the Piste Robards in his current

persona - was there to welcome them.

He quickly made sure Hermione and Daphne were

safely escorted to the Potter family box by an auror -

Sirius, Remus and a few others were already there and

waiting - then took both Harry and Neville aside to be

scanned. Both, of course, came up clean.

"I'll be scanning you again, just before you step onto

the piste, Lord Potter," he warned.

Harry gave a nod and replied, "Understood, Master

Robards."

After the scans both boys were allowed to enter the

floor of the piste, but not approach the piste itself.

They did so.

The first thing Harry noticed on walking through the

door and onto the floor was, as expected, the seating

was packed. Next were the flashes and pops of

wizarding cameras coming from basically one area of

the plush spectator boxes. Clearly, that was the media

area.

Walking further onto the floor, Harry looked to either

side and saw his 'family' sitting in a spectator's box

halfway along, as Neville told him it would be. It

appeared to have seating for ten - two rows of five. He

saw Hermione and Daphne, of course. They were

sitting between Remus and Sirius with Narcissa

sitting at the end seat left of that row. Behind them

were Frank, Alice, Samuel, Adeline and...

Marchbanks? He didn't know she was going to be

here.

Sirius waved and tossed him a jaunty salute. Harry

waved back with a grin.

_‗_

―==(oIo)==―

ˇ

Finally, the time was only one minute away from the

appointed hour.

Robards and his 'second' rescanned both him and

Nott, who had entered a minute after he and Neville

did and immediately directed them onto the piste at

either end.

Neville stood off the piste and back about three paces,

but level with Harry. It could be called a right angle.

And Nott and his second were the same.

During the whole lead up to then, both duellers and

their seconds were kept well away from one another,

with aurors enforcing that gap.

Robards then listed out the terms of the duel and

asked both duellers to confirm before turning to the

seconds, who also confirmed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------

Chapter 610

Then he asked, "As per the law I ask each dueller if

they wish to withdraw. Does either dueller wish to

withdraw?"

Nott just sneered and shook his head while Harry

politely replied, "No, thank you."

Robards sent a glare back at Nott for his rudeness

and gave Harry a smile smile and tiny head nod.

"Very well," he said to both, then called, "Activate the

wards!"

Instantly, the rune based ward scheme Internationally

accepted as the standard sprung to life on the piste.

The only weakness in the scheme was keyed to

Robards's magical signature. He could step through it

from the outside. It was a necessary weakness, to

allow Robards to step through and magically stop the

duel if he deemed the rules or terms had been

breached.

He then firmly stated, "The duel commences when I

next say the word, 'Mark!'. Are both duellers ready?"

As per the rules, Harry gave a slight bow to the Master

before turning to face Nott. Unsurprisingly, Nott had

ignored the man.

"Lord Nott!" The Captain barked. "I will have your

signal you are ready before I will begin."

'Lord Nott, eh?' thought Harry. 'Clearly old Caracticus

emancipated the boy in his Will. That's all the excuse

I'll need to do what I'll do when I win. He's no longer

considered a child.'

Nott finally gave the barest of nods to Robards before

he turned back to Harry and dropped into a dueller's

stance. Harry took his own and noticed Nott's stance

was one of instant offence.

Harry's was more one of relaxed poise and readiness;

right foot and shoulder forward, knees loose and

'uncocked' and on the balls of his feet with a bare

minimum of weight on his heels. His wand, of course,

was in his hand. However, it was pointed down and

slightly away, while Nott's was held up high.

There was short pause as Robards consulted a clock

bolted to the wall opposite and above the heads of the

spectators.

Then, "Three!... Two!... One!... MARK!"

Nott had timed it well. As soon as Robards began the

'M; for 'Mark', his wand was being jabbed forward with

an added twist as the tip glowed aqua.

'A simple gouging charm at the floor at my feet,'

thought Harry.

He blocked it with a Protego.

But Nott then didn't wait for Harry to cast back. He

just kept casting, one after another. Each getting more

vicious.

Harry mentally smirked to himself and cast back

annoying jinxes and the like. His plan was simple.

Enrage the boy enough he'll leave an opening Harry

could exploit. And Nott was burning through magical

energy like it was all going to be taken away from him

within the next five minutes and wanted to use it all up

before it was.

As Nott began to slow down a little after his first

dozen casts, Harry started to push more and more

onto the offensive. It kept the amount of magical

power he was using low enough Nott thought he

could simply spell swat it all aside. That was what he

wanted the other boy to assume.

Then Harry started into the spell chains; ones he'd

come up with, mixed in with short already known

ones.

He could see the anger steadily more and more

marring his opponent's face.

Seeing an opening in the middle of a chain, he broke

out of it and cast the colour-changing charm at the

boy's hair, turning it pink; then hit his wand with a

minor illusion, making it look like a muggle little girl's

fairy princess's wand with a big silver star on the tip

Nott snarled in rage and returned to an almost full on

offensive. And his curses became even darker in

nature. Some of those, he knew were fatal if they

connected; an organ expelling curse, an organ rotting

curse, a withering curse and one that turned your

blood into acid, for example.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see the glare

directed at Nott by Robards. It also looked like

Robards was quickly going to determine he would

need to step onto the piste and halt the duel.

Throughout it all, Harry had dodged, shielded and

spell-swatted it all. Only one spell, so far, had touched

him. He'd taken a clip to the wand-hand from a cutting

Curse and blood was dripping to the floor from his

hand. However, the same could not be said for Nott.

His robes were cut through, he was bleeding in a few

places, his front top teeth were about two inches long

- from an accurately cast Densaugeo - and Harry could

tell he was hurting from what he thought were badly

bruised and or broken bones in his chest, off arm and

'wand' leg. And that did not include the prank hexes

he'd landed on the boy. Nott's casts were becoming

less accurate and his wand movements far less

refined.

That's when Harry did something only Nott, Daphne

and Hermione, of those present, had seen him do

before. He cast a Protego shielding charm off the tip

of his wand and charged forward.

Nott;'s eyes widened for the moment, as Harry

charged forward, before the ends of the eyes pinched.

Then he cast one of those dark curses that bore

straight through a shielding charm, using the

shielding charm to empower it further.

Harry watched it cast and coming, dropped his shield

at the last moment while simultaneously jinking to his

right a pace and continued to charge forward while

casting.

This time he didn't hold back and put full power into

the cast. His bludgeoner hit the boy in the wand arm,

clearly snapping one or more bones, before his

follow-up double stinging hexes stop the other boy

trying to hit him with another curse.

By then, Harry was on him.

As this was a 'public' spectacle, he didn't kick the boy

in the twins again. He simply tagged the boy with a left

cross to the chin.

Nott spun about and his wand went flying out of his

hand, dropping to the floor just before he did, landing

on his back.

Harry stood over him for a second time with his wand

tip glowing, pointing at him right between the eyes.

"Yield!" he demanded.

Nott glared back and snapped, "Get fucked!"

"Very well," said Harry and raised his wand with his

elbow cocked.

"HALT!" bellowed Robards.

Harry immediately stopped and lowered his wand

again, but didn't reholster it.

"The winner, by clear margin, is Lord Harrison Potter!"

called Robards.

Over the resultant din of yelling and applause, Harry

glared back at the hate-filled face of Nott and firmly

declared, "As per the terms of the duel; I, Lord

Harrison James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Most

Ancient House of Potter..."

Knowing something momentous was happening, the

spectators all immediately quietened down as if

someone had tossed a bucket of water over them.

"... One of the Seven, under Section 42 of the Act of

Ennoblement, hereby strip the House of Nott of its

noble title and Seat upon the Wizengamot! As I say, as

per the law, so must it be so!"

Without waiting for Nott to say a thing back, as he

wasn't interested in anything his opponent would say,

Harry spun about and began to stalk back up the

piste. His experience with Dumbledore using blood

trackers on him had him wary of leaving any of his

blood anywhere. He felt the near desperate need to

vanish what drops had dropped from his hand from

the cutting curse.

"BAASTAAARD!" screamed Nott.

Harry ignored him and kept walking away.

"Mister Nott!" barked Robards. Then, "DOWN!"

Harry had only just started to drop to the floor,

knowing what that snap-called 'Down' meant, when he

was hit low in the back with a curse.

The effect of it hitting him, caused him to spin, right

shoulder forward, faster than he was at the time. Not

wanting to land on his face as he'd not be able to

protect himself from a follow-up attack, he made sure

to spin the full 'one-eighty' to land on his back.

Gritting his teeth to ignore the pain of the hit - it must

have found a gap in the armour on his back to hurt

that much - he crashed to the floor on his back,

already raising his wand. Again, he ignored the pain

caused by the jarring impact.

Cocking his neck forward and looking back between

his crooked up knees he saw Nott charging him back.

His wand was raised up high and began to glow that

evil green, the same green as his, Harry's, eyes.

"Av-a-da!" Nott was snarling out, halfway through the

incantation of the Killing Curse as he ran forward.